Hat-pressing machine.



No. 636,392. Patented Nov. 7, I899.

' F. H. VAN HQUTEN.

HAT PRESSING MACHINE.

Application filed May 2. 1899.)

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No. 636,392. Patented Nov. 7,1899.

F.. H. VAN HOUTEN. HAT PRESSING MACHINE.

(Application. filed May 2. 1899.]

wNo Model.) 2 Sheets-Shed 2.

E fi E 2x71 h LQQAM 62M 1 am/65m W77 MM 67 v amw s ms NORRIS PETERS ccwxmoumu, vnsnmam n c PATENT FRANK H. VAN HOUTEN, OF FISHKILL-ON-THE-HUDSON, NEW YORK.

HAT-PREVSSING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,392,dated'l\lovember 7, 1899. Application filed May 2, 1899. Serial No. 'll5,348. lNo model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, FRANK H. VAN HOUTEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Fishkill-on-the-Hudson, in the county of Dutchess and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hat-Pressing Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates particularly to improvements in presses such as are specially adapted for pressing hats in the manufacture of the same, and while designed especially for such use it is obvious that it may be usedfor like purposes in other lines of manufacture.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, powerful, and easily manipulated press which may be set readily and quickly by the operator when the dies or forms are changed or the character of the goods operated upon is varied, to which end it consists in certain novel details of construction and;

combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be now described, and pointed out particularly in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a single machine embodying my present improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, taken from front to rear of the same. Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, showing the handle or lever. in its reversed position with the platen raised. Fig. 4 is a detail section through the platen and showing the upper end of the spindle.

Like letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

, The machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings and in connection with which I have shownv my present improvements is a single machine having side frames A, with a top cross-piece B, a bottom cross-piece G, and an intermediate horizontal frame D, these parts being, however, so constructed as to adapt the frame for use as one of a series connected side by side, the side frames A in such instance forming the frame for adjacent machines, each, however, in its operation being preferably independent, and therefore in the present case I have deemed it expedient to illustrate only one.

a vertically-movable central spindle E, upon the upper end of which a platen F is supported, preferably in such manner as that the platen may have a slight rocking movement. The preferred manner of mounting is illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein it will be seen that the, platen itself is provided with a rounded socket f, and the upper end e of the spindle is correspondingly rounded to fit therein,

while immediately below such rounded porjtiouithe diameter of the spindle is reduced somewhat, as indicated at 6, thereby allowing the platen a limited rocking movement;

but should it be desired to employ a platen which Will not rock and at the same time be capable of rotation on the spindle the socket in the platen may be made somewhat deeper or the surrounding wall of the socket extended downwardly past the reduced portion of,

the spindle, as indicated in dotted lines at c in said figure.

The spindle E slides vertically in the bearings c d, and at its lower end, preferably above the bearing 0, it is threaded through a nut G, and to this nut the power mechanism for reciprocating the spindle or raisin or lowering the platen is applied, as well as the counterbalancing mechanism, when such is employed. The power mechanism in the presentinstance consists,primarily,of a forwardlyprojecting shaft H, mounted in a bearing I on the intermediate frame D and having at its outer end a socket h for the reception of a handle or lever H. At its inner end the shaft is provided with a crank-arm H and extending between the end of the crank-arm and the nut G and pivotally connected with each is a connecting-link H The half-rotation of the shaft, it will now be apparent,will swing the crank-arm H from its lowermost position to its highest position and will move the central spindle and platen correspondingly, and in the preferred construction the operating handle or lever is normally arranged to stand horizontal when the crankarm is in its lowermost position, being adapted to make a half-turn in swinging the crankarm to its upper position, and in the latter position the crank-arm is preferably carried slightly past its dead-center, where its motion or forward movement may be arrested by an adjustable stop, such as the set-screw K, where it will be held by the pressure of the platen and will not tend to return to its lowermost position until its movement is inaugurated through the medium of the operating handle or lever.

In addition to the bearings c and d, before referred to, the central frame and bottom cross-piece are also provided with bearings c and d, in which works a vertically-movable auxiliary spindle K. This auxiliary spindle K is also connected with the nut G, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, and at its upper end it carries or is connected with a clamp L, said clamp being adapted for engagement with the central spindle E. In the preferred arrangement the clamp takes the form of an open band or casting, which surrounds the spindle E, and at its two extremities is adapted to be drawn together by means of a screw and handwheel M, the arrangement being such that the central spindle may be firmly clamped, so as to prevent its rotation. The central spindle is also preferably provided with a hand-wheel N, by means of which when the clamp L is loose it may be adjusted vertically through the nut G, and thus give a variable range of movement for the accommodation of dies or forms of different shapes, and when so adjusted it will be locked in its adjusted position with relation to the nut by means of the clamp and hand-wheel L and M.

For convenience and ease of manipulation the central spindle and parts connected therewith are preferably counterbalanced by means of a counterweight 0, attached to one end of a flexible connection or chain 0,which chain after running over a pulley or guide 0 is connected to the nut G, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. y

In the operation of the machine it will be understood that the platen F cooperates with a form or stationary platen which is su pported by the top cross-piece 13, although I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate such cooperating platen, inasmuch as its shape and form are varied to suit the particular work being done, and it will also be obvious that the platen F illustrated may be changed or other platens substituted therefor adapted to cooperate with different styles or shapes of stationary platens.

The auxiliary spindle E in addition to holding the central spindle in its adjusted position, as before described, also prevents the rotation of the nut G upon the spindle under the influence of the connecting-link when the power is applied. Thus the parts are held in correct alinement throughout the whole sequence of movements, and any binding or distortion in the bearings is prevented.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is-

1. In a press, such as described, the combination with the frame, the vertically-movable platen-snpport-ing spindle screw-threaded at its lower end, and the operating-crank, of a nut mounted on the threaded end of the spindle, alink connecting said nut and crank, and a locking mechanism for preventing the rotation of the nut with relation to the spindle; substantially as described.

2. In a press, such as described, the combination with the frame, and the verticallymovable platen-supporting spindle adapted to be rotated for vertical adjustment, of a nut adjustably connected with said spindle, a power-arm connected with said nut, a looking mechanism for holding the nut and spindle in their position of adjustment with relation to each other and a guide for preventing the rotation of the-spindle and nut when so locked; substantially as described.

3. In a press, such as described, the combination with the frame, the vertically-movable central platen supporting spindle and the power arm or crank, of a nut adjustably connected with the spindle, a link connecting said power arm or crank and nut, and an auxiliary spindle connected with the nut for holding it against rotation while permitting it to move Vertically in unison with the central spindle; substantially as described.

4. In a press, such as described, the combination with the frame, the central verticallymovable platen-supporting spindle, screwthreaded at its lower end, the nut through which said spindle passes and the power arm or crank connected with said nut, of an auxiliary spindle mounted in bearings in the frame and connected with said nut and a lock interposed between the upper end of said auxiliary spindle and the central spindle for holding the latter against independent rotation; substantially as described.

5. In a press, such as described, the combination with the frame, including the central transverse frame and the bottom cross-bar having vertically-arranged bearings therein respectively,a central platen-supporting spindle mounted in one set of said hearings to move vertically and a second or auxiliary spindle mounted in the other set of said bearings to move vertically, of a nut adjustably mounted on the lower end of the central spindle and connected with the auxiliary spindle, a power arm or crank, a link connecting said power arm or crank and nut, a clamp mounted on the upper end of the auxiliary spindle and surrounding the central or main spindle, with a hand-wheel for adjusting said clamp, and a second clamp on the main or auxiliary spindle for adjusting the latter with relation to the nut.

6. In a press, such as described, the combination with the frame, the central verticallymovable platen-supporting spindle, the aux- ICC iliary spindle, the clamp interposed between weight for counterbalancing the weight of the the upper ends of the spindles and the nut central spindle and connected parts; substaninterposed between the lower ends of said tially as described.

spindles, of the power arm or crank, the link FRANK H. VAN HOUTEN. 5 connecting said power arm or crank and said Witnesses:

nut, the adjustable stop for limiting the up- HARVEY BRETT,

ward swing of the crank and the counter- ALICE M. KEANE. I 

